Shell is working with start-up company bio-bean, which processes used coffee grounds into biofuel. The two firms have come up with B20 biofuel, which has a 20% bio-component which containing part coffee oil. The biofuel is being added to the London bus fuel supply chain and will help to power some of the buses, without need for any modifications.

Biofuel provides a cleaner, more sustainable energy solution for buses across London’s network by decreasing emissions.

A bio-bean coffee log

Bio-bean has a processing plant at Alconbury Weald, where it turns left-over coffee grounds into fuel. The company has already successfully marketed coffee logs, which can be used to power wood-burners and barbecues.

Waste is an 'untapped resource'

Arthur Kay, CEO and founder of bio-bean

"Our Coffee Logs have already become the fuel of choice for households looking for a high-performance, sustainable way to heat their homes – and now, with the support of Shell, bio-bean and Argent Energy have created thousands of litres of coffee-derived B20 biodiesel which will help power London buses for the first time," said bio-bean’s founder Arthur Kay.

"It’s a great example of what can be done when we start to reimagine waste as an untapped resource."

How it works

There are plenty of coffee grounds to go round, as apparently the average Londoner drinks 2.3 cups of coffee a day, producing over 200,000 tonnes of waste a year. Much of this ends up in landfill, with the potential to emit 126million kg of CO. bio-bean works to collect some of these waste coffee grounds from high street chains and factories.

bio-bean is making use of coffee grounds which would otherwise be chucked away

The grounds are dried and processed before coffee oil is extracted. bio-bean works with its fuel partner Argent Energy to process this oil into a blended B20 biofuel. 6,000 litres of coffee oil has been produced, which if used as a pure-blend for the bio component and mixed with mineral diesel to form a B20, could help power the equivalent of one London bus for a year.

'Inventive solution'

Sinead Lynch, Shell UK country chair, said: "When it comes to clean energy, we are always looking for the next inventive solution. A good idea can come from anywhere, but with the scale and commitment of Shell, we can help enable true progress.

"We're pleased to be able to support bio-bean to trial this innovative new energy solution which can help to power buses, keeping Londoners moving around the city - powered in part by their waste coffee grounds."